The forum brought librarians and archivists together with Human Rights stakeholders from many disciplines to discuss the complex issues surrounding the “lifecycle” of Human Rights documentation:

the creation of documentation and evidence relating to a human rights offence

the custody and use by individuals and institutions for purposes of advocacy or justice

the maintenance of these records by local organizations and their eventual disposition

the organization, preservation, and granting of access to documentation with appropriate restrictions

and the further use in teaching, research, legal proceedings, and social action.

Speakers from a range of backgrounds and experience, including creators of documentation, experts in the legal profession, archivists, librarians, and teachers of Human Rights spoke to these challenges during the public proceedings of the conference. The conference culminated in a working session during which attendees identified roles that libraries can play in ensuring the integrity and preservation of evidence and documentation.

The consensus of attendees was that libraries must support the effective collecting, safekeeping, and appropriate accessibility of archives and other materials that document violations of human rights and that support the prevention and prosecution of those abuses in all world regions.